Florian Wirtz came to the AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg with a shy smile, but the 4 000‑strong crowd, all watching the struggling Liverpool striker, erupted in warm applause. The German national‑team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, used the moment to rally behind the 22‑year‑old and to criticize Liverpool’s recent lack of finishers.
“Florian creates a lot of chances, but they don’t finish them,” Nagelsmann told the fans. “Everyone needs to back him so he can clear his head and play to his own best.” He also slammed Liverpool’s lack of unity, saying five of the club’s five strikers “thought they should have been starting.”
Nagelsmann’s remarks come after Wirtz’s move from the German side Leverkusen to Liverpool in 2022 for a reported €150 million. Since his arrival, he has spent most of his time on the bench and critics have questioned whether the club’s coaching and mindset are hurting his development. The coach calls the situation “complex.” He said it’s normal for a young player his age to see up‑and‑down performance over three years.
Despite the criticism, Nagelsmann praised Wirtz’s growing intensity and recent improvements. “He’s been getting better every week,” he said. “We all know what he brings to our team and to any club.” He added that Liverpool’s recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid were “promising,” even though the club suffered a 3‑0 loss to Manchester City. The German boss encouraged his striker to use the international break to rebuild his confidence before their next big match.
Germany faces tough times in attack ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The team will travel to Luxembourg on Friday and then play Slovakia next Monday. The German coach admitted that the squad’s depth in forward positions is limited. Players such as Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade, Frankfurt’s Jonathan Burkardt and Dortmund’s Maximilian Beier still search for their first national‑team goal. Injuries to key talent – Niclas Fullkrug, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Tim Kleindienst and Deniz Undav – have further stretched resources.
After 51 games in his tenure, 28 of Germany’s 51 goals came from the same launchpad of forwards, and the recent win over Luxembourg featured three goals from defenders. This pattern signals a shift from the era when Germany regularly dominated the striker column with legends like Miroslav Klose, Jürgen Klinsmann and Gerd Müller. Whether Nagelsmann can renew the country’s striker tradition remains to be seen.
In the coming days, the team will need to rally. Wirtz’s future at Liverpool could hinge on both his club and country performances, while Germany’s next qualifiers will test the depth and resilience of its attacking lineup. The world watches to see if the striker drought continues or if a new class of forward talents emerges under Nagelsmann’s guidance.
Source: ianslive
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